KJV ORIGINAL
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The lazy person says, 'There's a lion outside! I'll be killed if I go into the streets!'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse shows how lazy people make up ridiculous excuses to avoid work or responsibility.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, lions were actually present in the wilderness and occasionally threatened communities, making this a real but extremely unlikely urban danger. Solomon, the traditional author of many Proverbs, used this exaggerated scenario to illustrate how people create far-fetched excuses to justify their laziness. The 'streets' referred to the busy marketplaces and work areas where daily labor and commerce took place.
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